Murray named BBC Sports Personality of the Year

December 15, 2013 22:34 pm

Andy Murray completed a fairytale 2013 after he was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Murray was odds-on favourite for the prestigious prize after ending the 77-year wait for a British men's singles winner at Wimbledon earlier this summer.

He won the public vote ahead of British and Irish Lions star Leigh Halfpenny and record breaking jump jockey AP McCoy. He picked up more than 50 percent of the vote with Olympic champions Mo Farah and Ben Ainslie completing the top three.

He was not at the glittering award ceremony in Leeds - attended by the great and good of British sport - and received the award from tennis legend Martin Navratilova at his training base in Miami

He paid tribute to his family, coach Ivan Lendl and support team and seemed choked with emotion at the honour.

Last year Murray finished third after winning Olympic men's singles gold and the US Open and he becomes only the fourth tennis player to win the award in its 60 year history

"I'd like to thank all the public for giving me so much support over the last couple of years," he said.

"It's made a huge, huge difference around Wimbledon. I couldn't have done it without you and I know sometimes I'm not the easiest person to support.

"I've had a lot of pressure on me for a long time, so I'm just glad I managed to breakthrough.

"No matter how excited I'm trying to sound my voice still sounds incredible boring but I'm very happy and excited right now."

He added: "I remember watching SPOTY from a very young age. I went down to young SPOTY when I was 16 or 17, and I remember that was the first time I'd really have to speak in front of a large number of people.

"I would have loved to have been in Leeds but I had to make the right decision for my back and career and preparing best for the Australian Open.

"That means I had to stay here, but hopefully that will go to plan in a few weeks' time."

Meanwhile, aspiring Olympian Amber Hill was named Young Sports Personality of the Year, an award Murray himself won in 2004.

Earlier this year the 16-year old became the youngest winner of a World Cup in skeet shooting and finished the season ranked fifth in the world.

The British and Irish Lions were named team of the year while F1 driver Sebastien Vettel was crowned overseas sports personality.

Tireless Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams, who passed away earlier this year, was named winner of the Helen Rollason Award, given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.